DHAKA, March 1, 2024 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the National Insurance Day-2024 aimed at promoting the idea of insurance by enhancing public awareness.

She opened the day at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) here this morning.
 
At the same programme, the Prime Minister also inaugurated the bancassurance service that facilitated to provide premium of the insurance from the bank directly.

The Ministry of Finance and the Insurance Development and Regulatory Authority (IDRA) jointly organised the programme.

The National Insurance Day-2024 is being observed elsewhere across the country in a befitting manner with this year's theme 'Karbo Bima Garbo Desh, Smart Hobe Bangladesh'.

The Prime Minister also distributed prizes among first second and third in essay writing competition in two groups.

Two each life and non-life insurance companies also received honorary crest from the Prime Minister for their contributions to flourish the insurance industries.

The award recipients later took part in a photo session with the Prime Minister.

 President Mohammed Shahabuddin and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina issued separate messages on Thursday on the occasion.

Finance Minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, MP, Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division, Ministry of Finance, Sheikh Mohammad Salim Ullah, Chairman of the IDRA Mohammad Jainul Bari and Bangladesh Insurance Association (BIA) President Sheikh Kabir Hossain also spoke on the occasion.
 
A video documentary on the insurance sector was screened at the ceremony.
 
On March 1 in 1960, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman started working for the then-Alpha Insurance Company. Therefore, the government has decided to celebrate March 1 as the National Insurance Day, every year.
 
The government had later upgraded the "National Insurance Day" from 'B' category to 'A' category commemorating the great architect of independence, greatest Bangalee of all times and Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.